BLACKPINK's Jennie Delivers a Surprise Gift to DEX on 'Manito Club'

BLACKPINK's Jennie recently surprised DEX with a special gift. Previously, Jennie was publicly dating EXO's Kai, and after their breakup, she was rumored to be involved with G-Dragon and BTS's V.

On the first episode of MBC's 'Manito Club' aired on the 1st, new members Jennie, DEX, Choo Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, and Lee Soo-ji made their debut. The show featured the five undercover members secretly exchanging gifts without revealing their identities.

According to Nielsen Korea, the most-watched moment of the episode was the thrilling chase between Jennie and her Manito, DEX. The scene where DEX delivered a gift to Choo Sung-hoon and made a quick escape reached a peak rating of 2.8% in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The intriguing concept of 'Manito Club' captivated viewers from the start. The show is based on the idea of a group of people who know how to share, with members like Santa, Genie, and the Fairy Godmother operating worldwide. The new Korean branch members, Jennie, DEX, Choo Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, and Lee Soo-ji, met for the first time via video chat, adding to the excitement. The five members, each represented by an animal avatar, engaged in a brief exploration of each other's identities, but tension rose when Choo Sung-hoon's voice was accidentally revealed.

The live draw to determine Manito pairs was also a highlight. Using a random gacha system, each member was assigned a Manito based on the next number in line. Jennie exclaimed, "The dopamine is crazy," as the numbers were assigned: Raccoon (Lee Soo-ji), Panda (Jennie), Bull (DEX), Rabbit (Choo Sung-hoon), and Fox (Noh Hong-chul).

Identifying their Manito was no easy task. Members received hints in the form of body part photos, best comments, and puzzles. Lee Soo-ji impressed everyone by identifying Jennie from a single eyebrow dot. Jennie was momentarily confused by a comment describing her as "a fairy face with a woodcutter's body," but she eventually solved the puzzle to identify DEX as her Manito. DEX and Noh Hong-chul also figured out their Manitos, Choo Sung-hoon and Lee Soo-ji, respectively, during the puzzle stage. Meanwhile, Choo Sung-hoon struggled and took 2 hours and 23 minutes to identify Noh Hong-chul, humorously asking, "Who is it?" even after solving the puzzle.

As the Manito activities kicked off, members earnestly prepared their gifts. Known for her generosity, Jennie planned a surprise gift for DEX, including vitamins and a popular snack with his real name, 'Jinyoung.' DEX chose protein drinks for Choo Sung-hoon, considering his lifestyle as a former fighter. Lee Soo-ji, a devoted fan of Jennie, selected a cherished Rudolph doll as her gift. Noh Hong-chul, understanding Lee Soo-ji's delicate nature, added a personal touch with a storybook, a knit item purchased during his travels, and a handwritten letter.

The strategies for delivering gifts varied widely. Upon hearing that the first to deliver a gift would receive a benefit, a chase ensued, heightening the excitement. Jennie quickly located DEX dining nearby and attempted to deliver her gift, narrowly avoiding a direct encounter. She heightened the tension by delivering vitamins to DEX's gym. DEX, showcasing his UDT background, employed a 'bell-and-run' tactic, leaving protein drinks at Choo Sung-hoon's hotel room door before swiftly departing.

Lee Soo-ji used her disguise skills to deliver her gift, transforming into Santa and visiting Jennie's agency to hand over the Rudolph doll. Jennie joyfully received the gift, expressing curiosity about Santa's identity. Meanwhile, Noh Hong-chul, after learning about Lee Soo-ji's favorite coffee from her acquaintances, demonstrated a meticulous strategy, even traveling long distances. Mistaking Noh Hong-chul for a travel YouTuber, Choo Sung-hoon sought help from Kwak Tube but ultimately decided to visit his regular bike shop.

DEX was the first to successfully deliver his gift, narrowly beating Lee Soo-ji by just two minutes. He couldn't hide his happiness while watching Choo Sung-hoon's live reaction to receiving the gift. In contrast, Noh Hong-chul and Choo Sung-hoon had yet to deliver their gifts.

Choo Sung-hoon, unaware of the rule to keep his identity hidden, humorously planned a bike ride with his Manito, adding to the laughter. As viewers eagerly anticipate whether the Manito gift exchanges will be completed successfully, the episode ended with a teaser of the Manito Club headquarters' emergency meeting and the members' first in-person gathering.

'Manito Club' airs every Sunday at 6:05 PM.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr